10 of the Hottest Luxury SUVs for 2019

The following 10 of the hottest luxury suvs for 2019 either are brand-new models or the first of a fresh generation. The crazy thing is that there are more than 10 available. That’s how much choice buyers will have from this fall onwards.

We could have mentioned the 2019 Jaguar I-PACE (but does an all-electric vehicle that looks a bit like a subcompact crossover really count as an SUV?) and the 2019 Volvo XC40, a fully fledged subcompact crossover. The 2019 BMW X4 is a superb fastback crossover with plenty of driver appeal. And the midsize Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class is being renewed for the coming model year. But we’re happy with our choices, and you could be too. Here, in alphabetical order by brand, are 10 of the hottest luxury SUVs for 2019.

We might as well start off on a sensible footing. “Sensible” usually is a fitting description for Acura vehicles, yet that hasn’t always been a positive thing. However, Acura has taken steps to be a little more interesting, as the styling of the new third-generation RDX illustrates. The optional all-wheel drive system also has a sporty feel and isn’t just a security blanket in bad weather.

Fear not, though, the usual dependable Acura attributes of value for money, exceptional build quality and standard-issue advanced driver aids are part of the deal. The 2019 RDX could sway buyers who might be looking at premium compact SUV/crossovers like the Audi Q5 and BMW X3.

After sensible, let’s head for sensational. The Q8 is an all-new model from Audi. If anyone liked the basic idea of a BMW X6 or a Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe — those fastback versions of midsize SUVs — but felt that neither really hit the mark aesthetically speaking, then take a good, long look at the Q8.

Instead of grafting on a coupe-like roof regardless of whether it fits with the rest of the design, the Q8 goes for a sleeker version of the Q7 (which is exactly what it is). That means cutting down the seating from three rows to two and losing a little cargo capacity, but there probably are many buyers happy with that trade-off. The interior also is stunning.

A fourth generation of the BMW X5 debuts for the 2019 model year. The midsize X5 was one of the first car-based SUV/crossovers, and by now most of us are familiar with its attributes of premium cabin with an enthusiast’s edge.

Styling-wise, the new X5 hardly breaks new ground, but given the previous generations’ wild success, such bravery is hardly necessary. However, BMW has bolstered the new X5’s off-roading credentials with the availability of an air suspension, terrain-specific drivetrain modes, rear locking differential and underbody protection plates. Naturally, the amount of technology offered also has taken a major leap, including serious partial autonomy and frivolous cabin lighting that pulses when the phone rings.

The Cadillac XT4 is an all-new premium compact SUV/crossover. It goes on sale in fall 2018 starting at $35,790, it’s comparatively roomy, has a turbocharged 2.0-liter/four-cylinder engine making 237 hp, a 9-speed automatic transmission, and all-wheel drive is optional. Sorry to reel off a bunch of dry facts, but not much else is known yet about the XT4 at the time of writing this piece.

We do know, however, that Cadillac’s talented design team working on the XT4 had a lot of youth on their side. And young people are the demographic Cadillac wants to attract. One more interesting snippet — the optional wireless device charging feature can take plus-sized smartphones.

The Lamborghini Urus is shaping up to be the hottest of the 10 hottest luxury SUVs for 2019 (assuming we’re defining “hot” as expensive, powerful and striking). Lamborghini is renowned for making supercars, and now it says it has created the world’s first “Super Sport Utility Vehicle.”

From a design standpoint, it does look like a sports machine had landed on an SUV from a great height. But it kind of works. The “super” aspect is covered by a mighty 641 hp from a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8, while the Urus also enjoys rear-wheel steering for extra nimbleness. The price is “super” in its own way, expected to be around $200,000 when the Urus goes on sale during fall 2018.

The all-new Lexus UX also might be the hottest of the 10 hottest luxury SUVs for 2019 if “hot” is defined as best-selling. Subcompact SUV/crossovers are becoming ever more popular — in premium as well as mainstream guises — and it seems Lexus has no difficulty finding buyers for every crossover it makes.

For a street-going variety of hotness, the UX has the F Sport package with a firmer suspension and 18-inch alloy wheels. For a different kind of customer appeal, there’s a hybrid version (the UX 250h), which is the only variant to offer all-wheel drive. And just for good measure, the 2019 UX is looking like the least expensive way to get into a new Lexus.

Formerly known as the MKX, this midsize luxury SUV receives both a redesign and a name change for 2019: the Lincoln Nautilus. It could be argued that it’s a really cool name, as well. Among the things that now make it hot is the new look that brings the same design vocabulary as the Continental luxury sedan, giving the Nautilus a greater presence.

The spacious cabin has received an upgrade (Lincoln offers a super-comfortable 22-way power-adjustable driver’s seat), plus the Nautilus features a superb Revel audio system. A wide array of advanced driver aids is on the options list, including evasive steering assistance. The Nautilus is another strong push in the right direction for Lincoln as it seeks to reinvent itself.

Despite looking similar to the outgoing model, the Mercedes-Benz G-Class is an all-new generation for 2019 and remains one of the most capable SUVs on the planet. We think the G-Class transcends the humdrum demands of the automobile industry and has earned the right to remain recognizable.

The more fundamental changes have taken place in less apparent areas, like making the body more rigid, the cabin more luxurious and the all-wheel-drive hardware even more talented. Chances are a G-Class owner will be negotiating paparazzi more than natural obstacles, but it’s good to know the new model can wade through 27.6 inches of water (four more than before) while the driver enjoys a standard Burmester surround sound system.

Any new Porsche is cause for celebration, even when it’s a luxury midsize SUV. That’s because, behind the steering wheel, nothing else feels quite like a Porsche. The 2019 model year sees a fresh generation of Cayenne, built on an all-new platform (shared with the Audi Q8 and the Lamborghini Urus).

Behind that familiar-looking exterior design (although the new Cayenne looks far less awkward than the first generation) is the latest technology made available in a futuristic way, like the big 12.3-inch, high-resolution infotainment touchscreen. The new basic engine is a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 delivering 340 hp, which is 40 hp more than its 2018 counterpart. The other good news for enthusiasts is that this Cayenne also is lighter.

File under: “Oh my goodness, if their vehicle costs this much, what’s the value of their house?” Welcome to the stratosphere of luxury SUVs, the 2019 Rolls-Royce Cullinan. This is the first time the great British marque (now owned by BMW) has made an SUV, but it seems market forces can exert pressure even at this rarefied level.

These hand-made full-size SUVs (named after a famous diamond) will start in excess of $250,000, and the plethora of bespoke options undoubtedly should push that figure far higher. But the most lavish SUV in the world has to be impressively expensive. While other manufacturers call their platforms something boring like SPA or MQB, Rolls-Royce’s name for the Cullinan’s underpinnings is “Architecture of Luxury.”